In Shark Contrast: Our 2010 Predictions Sep 7, 2010 | More

FIRST UP: JAMES ELVINS

TOP 5 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS (and their ADPs)

Adrian Peterson (1.02)
Aaron Rodgers (1.07)
Drew Brees (1.09)
Chris Johnson (1.01)
Michael Turner (1.08)

No surprises here – save for maybe Turner. They plan to use him more in the passing game. He’s leaner and fitter than last year and Matt Ryan has been given the no-huddle option. What's not to like in Atlanta?

TOP 5 OFFENSIVE ROOKIES

Jahvid Best (4.12)
Ryan Matthews (2.07)
Sam Bradford (19.08)
Mike Williams, Tampa Bay (14.11)
CJ Spiller (5.12)

For more information on the rookies, feel free to browse http://www.footballsharks.com/artman2/publish/Dynasty_Rookie_Rankingsv1.htm?page=1 for more info on each pick.

5 BIGGEST DRAFT BUSTS

Rashard Mendenhall (2.03)
Beanie Wells (4.01)
Knowshon Moreno (4.05)
Brandon Marshall (2.09)
Chad Ochocinco (4.11)

For any number of (different) reasons all three running backs face uphill struggles – far, far too many to warrant their current ADP. Especially when you have players like Ronnie Brown and  Jonathan Stewart available 2-3 rounds later. I’m not sold on the Chad Henne to Marshall connection. He’s good, but I haven’t seen any chemistry, yet. It could happen as the season wears on, but in my WR1 I like it to be already present when drafting rather than "hitting and hoping" that high in the draft. Ochocinco loves Terrell Owens, Palmer loves Owens, Ocho learns to hate Owens - True story.

5 BEST DRAFT VALUES

Joe Flacco (6.10)
Mike Wallace (7.02)
Arian Foster (8.03)
Johnny Knox (8.07)
Mike Williams, Tampa Bay (14.1)

Welcome to Baltimore – home of the NFL aerial offense. Say what? The Coryell coaching tree is strong in Baltimore O.C. Cam Cameron. Quick ... name three wide receivers that have averaged 18 yards per catch and 30-plus receptions in their rookie season? Michael Irvin, Jerry Rice and Wallace. Houston has something that Indianapolis doesn’t – a running game that can win matches on it's own. Knox is the guy to own in Mike Martz’s demolition of the quarterback formerly known as Jay Cutler and my Williams man love has been rampant since the NFL draft and growing. Restraining orders have been filed. Chris Cooley narrowly missed out, it was pretty close though and if you need to grab a TE, he's money all the way to the bank.

TOP 5 IDP PLAYERS

Rolando McClain
Patrick Willis
Curtis Lofton
Stewart Bradley
Paul Posluszny

Bad offense plus a surprisingly decent-looking defensive line now means McClain makes it No.1 for me. Lofton and Bradley are being asked to blitz more this season. Posluszny is there because he actually looks fit (for a change). Willis? He’ll always be there or thereabouts. I hope the San Francisco 49ers win a Super Bowl because Lord knows Willis should be in Canton when he retires.

TOP 5 IDP ROOKIES

Rolando McClain
Daryl Washington
Eric Berry
Morgan Burnett
Kareem Jackson

You can read more information about each player at http://www.fantasysharks.com/artman2/publish/IDP_Dynasty_Rookie_Rankings.htm

DIVISIONAL WINNERS

AFC East - New England Patriots
AFC North - Baltimore Ravens
AFC South - Houston Texans
AFC West - San Diego Chargers

NFC East – Philadelphia Eagles
NFC North – Green Bay Packers
NFC South – New Orleans Saints
NFC West – San Francisco 49ers

Offensively, the Patriots are too strong for anyone else in that division. The Jets will give them the closest run, Santonio Holmes is a great addition for Sanchez, too. The Ravens likewise are too solid at every other position to be too hamstrung by their ailing corners (Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington will be back to full health when the games really start to count). Houston has a younger, hungrier corps of players and Matt Schaub will cement his status as an elite quarterback this season and finally shake that injury tag - the difference between being able to win the league and finish runner-up? The running game. San Diego takes advantage of two teams that have been snake-bitten this season and in the past ( Oakland and Denver) while Kansas City starts to show the young talent they have. It's not enough, the Chargers’ experience wins out.

The NFC East is uglier than usual with the New York Giants’ defense still finding the identity it lost with Michael Strahan. The Cowboys offensive line is struggling and there are alot of mouths to keep happy and integrate for Jerruh & Co. Donovan McNabb’s ankle is potentially a recurring injury... How comfortable are you with Clinton Portis, Rex Grossman and Joey Galloway leading your title charge? Me either! The Packers are just an offensive juggernaut on one side of the ball and a takeaway machine on the other. I’ve got serious concerns about Chicago – they are either going to explode or implode. I suspect it'll be a bit of both and never at the time you'd want. As regards the Saints? It's the same story as Green Bay. The 49ers take the weakest division in football by virtue of being stronger in the fundamentals than the others. Pete Carroll & the Seahwaks won’t embarrass themself this year, but at least one quarterback in that division will ...

<< prev | 1 | 2 | next >>